Saturday, June 16, 2012

Vietnam

Quick recap of what I think about this country:

Inflation rate is high (1 USD is 20,000 Dong) - I deal with the thousands in currency, which can be confusing. It's not the Communist state that you think it is. Government officials are encouraged to be critical and are very open about political and economic reform. USAID, the World Bank, and Vietnamese government officials all have different views on the TPP. You can definitely tell why traffic-related deaths are second highest in the world. When crossing the streets, it's all about walking with slowly and with confidence. Also, I'd have to agree with Anthony Bourdain. Vietnamese food, hands down, is one of the best in the world. They understand fish sauce.

Conclusion: I can see myself living temporarily and conducting research in this country.